Monthly Archives: July 2013

VolkerFitzpatrick
This is the fourth newsletter issued to provide you with information about ongoing works at Three Bridges as part of the Thameslink Rolling Stock Project.

1. Progress to date:
VolkerFitzpatrick has continued to progress work on the new train maintenance depot at Three Bridges. Good progress has been achieved during the last few months with the erection of buildings on the east and west of the site.

UFC building on depot east side of Billinton Drive

Works completed to date are the Tilgate Stream culvert, a new footbridge for depot staff, ground works, piling and the erection of steel work for the depot buildings. We have also started installing pre-cast concrete side panels for the main building on the west side and the Under Floor Cleaning (UFC) building on the east side. The majority of the buildings will be clad in steel.

The UFC building will be used for train cleaning. Cleaning will be carried out using pressure washers. There will also be a carriage washer connected to the west side of the UFC building. This will
help the train operators to ensure a clean and comfortable journey for passengers.

We encountered some issues with a pre-existing concrete retaining wall on the Williams Way access road. As a result we had to close this road and open an alternative access route from Norwich Road with the assistance of Crawley Borough Council. This temporary access route will remain in place until the middle of August 2013 when Williams Way will be reopened. 24 hour security will remain at the entrance of the access road until the road is closed. The footpath closure from Norwich Road to Craven Road has been extended due to the temporary access.

2. Planned works:
We are finalising arrangements with West Sussex County Council to develop the new entrance to the east side of the depot off Billinton Drive. These works will commence in the next two months and will be controlled using traffic lights and take place out of peak traffic hours to minimise disruption.

Other works planned during the next two months are to complete the buildings’ concrete panels and then begin the cladding process, work on retaining walls on the site boundaries, undertake drainage works, and complete the bridge extension work adjacent to Norwich Road and off Maidenbower Lane.

Main Facility Building

We have been in consultation with the Council to provide the most effective landscaping for the depot and train operations. Landscaping will take place in and around the site. This will include fencing, tree and shrub planting to supplement the existing established trees and shrubs around the site boundaries and provide additional screening. The planting will be phased over the
next couple of years to enhance the existing areas before construction is completed. Early planting will be scheduled to screen the buildings, in particular the embankment on the eastern boundary off Billinton Drive.

3. Good News :

Last month the Department for Transport announced it had finalised the agreement with Siemens to provide 1,140 new carriages for the Thameslink routes. The new Siemens Desiro City train will offer a metro-style service across the centre of London with easy access on and off the train and a spacious and airy design that maximises capacity. It will be much more comfortable to travel on, as well as being far more reliable. The first train is due to enter service in early 2016.

These trains will be maintained at the new Three Bridges Depot and at the other new depot in Hornsey that VolkerFitzpatrick is constructing. You can find out more about the new trains atwww.siemens.co.uk/thameslink-signing

We are committed to keeping all local residents and businesses up to date on progress with this important project. We will continue to issue regular newsletters and you can also view the latest updates at Three Bridges Railway Station. Network Rail will also keep you up to date on any work they undertake to support the upgrade of the railway network

lf you have any queries, comments or concerns please contact VolkerFitzpatrick, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on: 07867 835078

You are invited to a meeting to discuss resident and business attitudes to air travel on

Wednesday 10th July from 7.30pm.

You will be aware that the Government has appointed an independent commission to consider ways of increasing airport capacity, and to recommend some options for the Government’s consideration.

Whilst the Commission is conducting its work, West Sussex County Council is considering how the potential options might affect communities in West Sussex. As part of our consideration, we commissioned independent researchers to conduct a survey of resident and business opinions relating to air travel.

The purpose of the survey is to understand the views and opinions of residents and businesses in West Sussex, to inform the air travel policies of the County Council and Crawley Borough Council.

The survey has been completed and the findings are being prepared for publication. I have asked the researchers to a special meeting where the survey will be explained and the findings will be presented. There will also be time for questions and answers. The findings of the survey will be published on the County Council’s website after the meeting. The meeting itself will be webcast for those who cannot attend.

I am pleased to invite you or a colleague to the meeting. It will be held in 10th July in the Civic Hall, The Boulevard, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 1UZ. The doors will open at 7.30pm for the meeting to start at 7.45pm. Tea/coffee will be provided and I expect the meeting to close by 9.45pm.

The Civic Hall is not far from Crawley Railway Station and the bus stops that serve the town centre. If you will be travelling by car, the multi-story car park to the rear of the Civic Hall will be free to use and open for the duration of the meeting.

Spaces are limited so if you wish to attend the meeting, please contact Gina Hall by e-mail at gina.hall@westsussex.gov.uk or on 03302 222531

sent on behalf of:
Louise Goldsmith.
Leader West Sussex County Council
Chichester West Division.

Worth Park, formerly known as Milton Mount Gardens, covers eight hectares of land. The park includes formal gardens, recreational parkland and a lake area which is
a site of nature conservation interest.

The park won a Silver award in the large parks category of the South and South East in Bloom 2011 competition. Crawley Borough Council was awarded a grant of £2.4m from the Heritage Lottery and The Big Lottery Fund last year to restore Worth Park to its former Victorian glory.

The work started in November last year and stonework contractor Cathedral Works Organisation was appointed in February.

Specialist cleaning of the Dutch Gardens and Italian terraces has begun and restoration of the original Pulhamite structures is currently taking place.

The large fountain has been drained and cleaned and the new pumping chamber is being fabricated off site.

Work still to do includes, lake works, Ridleys Court restoration landscaping of the gardens to include tree and shrub planting, repairs, and cleaning of the upper terrace and Camellia walkway, The whole restoration project is due to take five years to complete. A group of local residents set up ‘Worth Park Friends’ in 2006 to act as ambassadors for the area.

The group raise awareness of the history of the gardens, organise clean up days and hold fund raising events.

Members of Worth Park Friends hold workshops at Milton Mount Community Centre on the second Tuesday of each month, from 7pm to 9pm.
Membership costs £3 per year for individuals or £5 for families.

But, while they welcome the reduced speed limit, some parents are worried the yellow lines will leave even fewer places to park.

Kate Bagshaw. who lives in Ferndown, Pound Hill, and has two children at the school, said: “I have no choice but to drive, because I work. “The parking situation is unbelievable. People dump their cars on corners. They block in home owners. “The double yellow lines will make it even more of a joke. People are parking badly now. It will get 50 times worse.”

Double yellow lines are being painted on sections of Grattons Drive, Farmleigh Close, Home Close, Pembroke Road and- Peterhouse Parade, while a single yellow line will be painted on sections of Farmleigh Close.

With the school due to increase in size, Mrs Bagshaw cannot see an end to the parking problems and she also voiced concerns about delivery lorries performing three point turns having visited the shops on Peterhouse Parade.

Problems

She said: “There are definitely problems with lorries – I often see them in the morning.
“The drivers can’t.see everything (around them) and I’ve seen them mounting kerbs.”
Emma Drew would like to see a lollipop lady employed, as well as a 20mph speed limit.
She said: “Traffic is a big problem outside our school. Something definitely needs to be done about it.

“People park irresponsibly and dangerously and people drive far too fast along Grattons Drive.” The school has made efforts to encourage parents to cycle to school with their children.

Head teacher Anne Holmes said: “Our school and parents work closely together for the safety of all members of the local community “We welcome any measures that support the safety of our children on their way, to and from school.

“Our school travel plan encourages pupils and their parents to walk, scooter or bike to school to help alleviate the congestion that can occur around school entrances.”

The speed bumps will be in the shape of a road hump spanning the width of Grattons Drive and two speed cushions, which have gaps either side, near Peterhouse Parade.

A date has not yet been set for when the work will start, although it will be in this financial year.

New primary close to Pound Hill3rd July 2013 – Crawley News
Report by Keith Ballinger

A CONSULTATION on what sort of primary school should be built in Crawley’s soon-to-be-developed North East Sector is under way

The school, in the new neighbourhood north of Pound Hill, will have to cater for 420 pupils between the ages of 4 and 11.

Residents are being asked who should run the school, with options including.a parent group, a faith group, an existing school, an academy group or a school with a particular ethos such has Montessori or Steiner schools.

Other preferences to be considered include whether the school should be built in one or two phases, the catchment area, how pupils would get to the site, the date it should open, dedicated provision for children with learning difficulties and disabilities and whether there should be early years and pre-school provision.

The North East Sector will comprise of 1,900 homes and building work will begin early next year, with the first residents moving in by the end of 2014.

In total there will be four phases of building over 12 years.

West Sussex County Council anticipates its primary school having two classes per year group and opening in September 2016.

Peter Evans, the council’s cabinet member for children, said: “The benefit of having a new
school would be school places created nearer to new homes, therefore reducing school journeys.

“New school buildings can be designed to meet current guidance and existing schools would be able to continue without disruption.

Growth

“A new school provides another option to meet further growth in pupil numbers if required and it acts as a focal point for building a new community”

The consultation outlines the disadvantages of opening a new school, which include the fact it would be “untested” compared to established schools with “good track records”.

At a Later date a separate consultation is planned for a primary school in Crawley’s other new neighbourhood, Kilnwood Vale.

There are four primary schools currently serving the north east of the borough.
In 2014 the county council estimates there will be 359 children in the catchment area looking to join these four schools but only 330 spaces available.

Cllr Evans added: “We believe existing schools cannot be easily expanded and that a primary school to serve the new houses should be commissioned as soon as possible in the development.”

The public consultation ends on August 5. In September and October expressions of interest from parties looking to run the school will be sought, based on the feedback from the consultation.

A final decision on who runs the school is expected to be announced by January 2014.
A public drop-in session is taking place this afternoon (Wednesday) at Crawley Library from 4pm to 7pm, where residents can make their views heard.